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NC DHHS Urges Parents to Get Children Vaccinated for School

Raleigh, NC

Aug 11, 2015

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reminding parents of North Carolina middle school students to be aware of recent changes to immunization requirements, effective July 1. Children not up-to-date on these vaccinations will have 30 days from the start of school to be inoculated before facing suspension.

The updated requirements are:

Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV) - (protects against meningitis)

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (whooping cough) Vaccine (Tdap)

The updated requirements are outlined in North Carolina Administrative Code 10A NCAC 41A .0401 Dosage and Age Requirements for Immunization, and are consistent with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

"Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death," said Megan Davies, M.D., Acting State Health Director and Chief of DHHS' Division of Public Health's Epidemiology Section. "They not only help protect vaccinated individuals, but they also help protect the entire school community by reducing and preventing the spread of infectious diseases."